Blog Post

Property investment is all about the numbers – here we run you though some of the most important figures.

Pay attention, there will be questions!

0.5 – the UK interest rate for the past seven years. The unprecedented low levels of interest have helped make property investment so appealing.

1 – One property. 25% of landlords with a single property are either making a loss or not returning a profit. The buy to let investor needs to build a portfolio of properties as soon as possible.

2.3 – At the time of writing, the best returns from ISAs were around 2.3%. The ongoing low interest rates have been great for homeowners, less so for anyone wanting to invest simply by putting savings into an ISA or savings account.

3 The Stamp Duty levy on properties other than your main home is three per cent. Buy a second, or third, or fourth (you get the idea) property and the Stamp Duty rate will be 3% higher. Stamp duty on a £240,000 house would be £9,600 rather than £2,400.

5.9 Figures for the first quarter of 2015 showed that the average rental yield on a one-bedroom property was 5.9%. The average rental yield drops the more bedrooms a property has – 5.3% for two bedrooms, 4.7% for three bedrooms and 4% for four.

6 The UK House price to average salary ratio is now roughly 6:1. Twenty years ago it was 3:1

7.9 – UK house prices rose by this impressive percentage in the year to 2016 – one factor is likely to have been people buying investment properties before Stamp Duty changes kicked in

8 – Section 8 of the Housing Act is a means of evicting a tenant for breach of terms. In the vast majority of cases, this is non payment of rent.

10 The smallest percentage take a letting agency is likely to take in return for property management.

15 – Buy to let mortgages accounted for around 15% of all mortgages in 2015

20 The rate landlords will be able to claim back on their mortgage payments once the Government’s proposed tax changes have gone through. Currently, a landlord can claim back at their personal rate – the change could potentially make a lot of currently profitable rentals return an overall loss.

21 – Section 21 of the housing act can be used by a landlord to get possession of a property back when there has been no breach of terms by the tenant. This might be because the landlord wants to get new tenants in, to sell the property, or to live there themselves.

25 – 25% is the deposit you’re likely to need to get a competitive buy to let mortgage

32 – 32 per cent of landlords said they had experienced some rent arrears in the past 12 months

36 – More than a third of respondents to a House Crowd survey said they felt resigned to having to rent forever. For all the government attacks the buy to let sector, the need for quality rental accommodation at a fair rent will remain.

50 – Insurance to cover you should a tenant default on payments can cost as little as £50

64 – While a House Crowd survey of those under 30 showed that many in that demographic have little confidence they will ever be homeowners, the outlook is even worse for those aged 20-45.

A separate survey found 64% of 20 to 45 year olds believe they are never likely to own a property. Are we set for future problems, the government seems intent on hammering the buy to let landlord, yet quality landlords are essential in providing quality accommodation. Something has to give.

70 – The age someone currently in their 20s now is likely to have to work to before retirement. Makes property investment all the more appealing!

70 – 70 per cent of landlords are ‘part time landlords’. However, is this the group likely to be slashed by recent changes?

87 – Approaching nine in 10 people under the age of 30 haven’t invested in property, according to a House Crowd survey. Most stated it was simply because they can’t afford to. Does crowd funded property investment offer a route in? The model makes it possible to invest limited funds, even though the dream of owning your own property remains a way off.

500 – With crowd funded property investment the smallest stake needed to invest is often just £500

3000 – The potential fine if a tenant doesn’t have right to rent in the UK is £3,000. The onus is on the landlord to have done thorough checks, with ignorance no defence.

200,000 – The average house price in the UK is approaching £200,000

7.2 million – By 2025 there will be 7.2 million households in private rented accommodation according to accountancy firm PWC. To put that into perspective, there are around 5.5 million currently, and 2.3 million in 2001. The private rental sector is the one which is set to expand.

So can you remember what the average yield is for a one bedroom property?

How about the percentage of landlords who are ‘part time landlords’?

Alright, we know, there’s a lot to remember! One of the key jobs though for any landlord is to be on top of all the figures.

About the House Crowd

At the House Crowd, we offer an alternative investment model.

As an investor, you buy shares in a property, receiving a rental yield based on the proportion of your investment, as well as a share of the proceeds should the property later be sold.

Crowd funded property investment is a passive model, beyond choosing which properties to invest in, there is no ongoing maintenance or upkeep; that is managed for you by the crowd funding platform.

If you would like to know more about this model, please have a look around the site and get in touch with any queries. And however you choose to invest, we wish you the best of luck.